DISTANT

Chapter 28

The following morning she woke up to the sound of birds chirping, the sun peaking through her curtains and John Secada's Just Another Day playing throughout the house.

She settled her gaze at the clock next to her and noticed that it's 10:25. Groaning, she tugged the covers off her sweaty body and sat up straight.
Remembering the events from the previous night caused a sharp pinch to occur at the side of her head. Slowly she trugged towards the bathroom to get ready for the day.

Once she was done with her morning routine. She watched as she combed out her curly hair in the mirror. Her caramel skin looked pale, dark circles appeared under her eyes and her lips weren't their usual pink colour. With a sigh she walked towards the sound of where the music came from.

In the kitchen she found Charlie as he moved his body to the beat. He stood over the stove, tossing pancakes in the air and catching them again in the pain. He spun around and almost tripped over his feet when he saw her.

Awkwardly laughing he said, "Good morning Zay."

"What's so good about it?" She asked, her voice hoarse from crying. She walked over to the cupboards pulling out two mugs. "You want some?" She asked, pulling the coffee out of the cupboard.

"Uh....  Yeah." He replied, his smile dropping a little. "Zayna, he's just......" he began.

"Please Charlie. Not now." She turned her back against her cousin and tried to focus on what she's doing.

********

Her head rested on his lap as they watched Rush Hour 2. Charlie thought that she could use some of Chris Tucker to brighten up her mood, but so far it didn't work.

"Come on, Zee! How can you not laugh?!" He exclaimed in between laughs as he shook her shoulder.

Getting irritated, she slapped his hand away and shifted into a more comfortable position.He  wrapped his arm around her waist, giving her a comforting squeeze.

In the middle of the movie, the doorbell went. Zayna sat up as Charlie got up to answer the door. She laid her head against the armrest as it felt like her headache worsened over the past few hours.

"Oh Zayna!" She heard him call in a sing song voice, "There's someone here to see you."

"Tell them to go away." She shouted. She closed her eyes and massaged her temples.

"That's no way to talk to your cousin."

She opened her eyes and turned to the doorway. Her eyes widened in surprised as she saw a guy with a Pompadour haircut, dark blue eyes and a goatee.

"Hey, hermana." Said her brother as he approached her.

"Drew?" She questioned. She got up from the sofa so that he could give her his famous bear hugs. She lightly patted his back and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

A girl appeared by the doorway as she looked over her brother's shoulder. She was absolutely breath taking. She wore a pair of denim shorts, showing off her long, slender, tan legs and a tight fitting top, showing off her dangerous curves. She had brown hair with blonde highlights and beautiful blue/green eyes.

"And now? What happened to my little sister who would always jump me whenever she saw me?" Asked Drew confused with her odd behavior.

"Lo siento. I'm not feeling well." She lied.

"I'll say you look terrible."

Ignoring him she walked over to the girl and introduced herself. "Hey there. I'm Zayna. This idiot's sister." She said referring to her brother.